The general 3-6 months is a really big variation, for me. Plus you have all those factors like are you a single income or dual income family, is it 3 months of bare bones or regular budget, etc. I've tried to figure out what the experts' assumptions are when touting whatever "rule" they pick, but no one ever really says...

I figure the term EMERGENCY means just that. Emergency.I do not know who They are, or what They mean, but, To ME, this means if all income stopped tomorrow, for how long could the bills be paid?

and not

if all income stopped tomorrow, for how long could we live exactly like we do, without changing our lifestyle?

and the difference between those two could likely be the difference beween having an 8 month efund and a 3 month efund - depending on how often one dines out, goes to movies, buys clothes, gets haircuts, goes to Starbucks...

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